How Much Does It Cost To Resurface Or Repave a Driveway?
Last Updated on October 9, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker
Over years of constant vehicular use and exposure to seasonal temperature swings and precipitation, most driveways eventually begin showing signs of wear and damage such as cracking, potholes, crumbling edges and sinking.
As deterioration worsens, two primary options exist for renewing your home’s driveway and restoring your property’s curb appeal – resurfacing or full demolition and repaving. But what exactly influences the costs of these common driveway repair projects, and how much should you budget on average?
This guide examines everything you need to know about budgeting for your upcoming project and choosing the right solutions for your needs and property.
How Much Does It Cost To Resurface Or Repave a Driveway?
According to most industry experts, the cost to resurface or repave a driveway is approximately $2 to $12 per square foot just for basic asphalt driveway resurfacing, depending on the amount of patching and repairs the existing surface requires beforehand.
In contrast, complete asphalt driveway repaving often ranges from $8 to $20 per square foot including ripping out and hauling away the old layer. However, many geographical variables affect pricing including local contractor rates and material costs.
Based on our research across many sources, homeowners around the country commonly report investing:
- $200 to $800 for minor DIY repairs – Smoothing cracks, filling potholes and applying sealants can extend useful life several years.
- $800 to $3000 for basic resurfacing – Having around 1000 sq ft of residential driveway smoothly resurfaced by contractors represents good value.
- $3000 to $8000 for complete asphalt tear out and repaving – Totally replacing a standard 2 car suburban driveway with fresh asphalt and esthetics improvements makes a major impact.
- $10,000 to $30,000+ for upscale paver driveways – Premium concrete or artistic brick paver driveway renovation costs understandably run exponentially higher when selecting high-end materials and customized designs.
Of course, regional pricing, material costs and the scale of your specific project drive exact budget needs. But with prudent planning and smart maintenance, enhancing your home’s curb appeal provides lasting rewards for decades to come.
According to HomeAdvisor, resurfacing an asphalt driveway typically costs between $1,800 and $4,200, with an average cost around $3,000. This translates to about $3 to $7 per square foot for a standard area of approximately 600 square feet. The process generally involves repairing minor damages and applying a new layer of asphalt.
Another source, HomeGuide, indicates that asphalt driveway resurfacing costs can range from $400 to $2,200, averaging around $1,100. For resurfacing with decorative elements like stamping or colored asphalt, costs can increase to between $3 and $8 per square foot.
According to an article on Angi, repaving a driveway costs between $1,400 and $12,100, with an average around $6,800. This price includes the demolition of the old surface and is influenced by the material used. The cost per square foot for repaving typically ranges from $7 to $14.
Why Driveway Maintenance Matters
Routine care protects your driveway and prevents more expensive repairs later. Resurfacing or repaving provides benefits like:
- Smoother driving surface by eliminating bumps, cracks, and potholes
- Enhanced curb appeal that boosts home values
- Extended useful life through protective sealants
- Improved drainage and reduced water damage
- Avoiding total reconstruction costs as long as possible
- Increased home accessibility and safety entering your property
Protect your driveway investment with preventive maintenance.
Factors That Impact Project Costs
The total invested in refreshing and renewing your home’s driveway depends first and foremost on:
Exact square footage and layout – Wider and longer driveways or complex curved designs require greater quantities of materials and extra labor time, increasing costs proportionally. Precisely measure and account for edging areas.
Asphalt, concrete, or other paving materials – Asphalt is the most budget friendly option by far compared to concrete, brick, or stone. Material costs and construction methods vary.
Current condition assessment – Driveways requiring extensive repairs, grading, leveling, or drainage improvements rack up charges above simple resurfacing alone. Quantify all needs.
Professional contracting or DIY project – Certified contractors charge hourly installation and equipment fees, but DIY requires major sweat equity along with proper tools, abilities, and learning curves.
You might also like our articles about the cost of an asphalt driveway, a concrete driveway, or driveway widening.
Special enhancements like patterns, heating, or colorants – While decorative touches cost extra, they allow personalization. Evaluate which upgrades provide the best return on investment.
Regional contractors’ rates – Hourly pricing and material costs understandably vary across different areas due to prevailing local wages, regulations, competition, and available aggregate supplies nearby.
Asphalt Driveway Resurfacing Costs
Asphalt resurfacing involves adding a new 1–3-inch top layer over your existing driveway base rather than full replacement. When protected by sealants, it lasts 5-15 years depending on climate conditions and usage levels before needing another resurfacing round.
Here are realistic per square foot costs for materials and professional installation:
- Asphalt materials per square foot – From $1.50 to $4 depending on thickness and aggregate grades selected. Thicker is better.
- Construction labor rates per square foot – Around $3 on average but ranges $2-$5 based on regional wages and business overhead rates contractors factor in.
- Total cost per square foot of basic asphalt resurfacing – $4 to $9 per square foot with the national average around $6 per square foot as a useful budgeting guideline.
- Sealing for longevity per square foot – $0.15 to $0.30 per square foot gives great ROI by protecting the new surface from sun damage and moisture penetration leading to premature cracking and potholes. Don’t skip this vital step.
In general, basic asphalt resurfacing offers very economical long-term costs for maintaining your home’s driveway when needs are still limited to smoothing the top layer only.
Concrete Driveway Resurfacing Costs
Concrete resurfacing is substantially more complex than working with asphalt and requires scarifying or lightly grinding the existing slab to allow bonding with the new overlay poured on top. However, properly patched and resurfaced concrete easily lasts 20+ years, more than double asphalt. Costs typically range:
- Concrete materials per square foot – From $3 to $7 for quality concrete, assuming standard 4-inch resurfacing depth. Increased depth adds costs.
- Construction labor hourly rates – From $4 to $8 per square foot with the national average around $6 for professional finishing work.
- Total cost per square foot for concrete resurfacing – $7 to $15 per square foot with most homeowners reporting costs averaging $10-$12 per square foot for satisfying results that stand the test of time when cared for with regular sealing.
- Sealing for longevity per square foot – $0.10 to $0.30 per square foot is ideal for maintaining the renewed concrete surface cost-effectively.
In budgeting, allow approximately $2 to $5 per square foot extra on top of asphalt to account for the increased difficulty working with concrete materials. Healthy driveways use the right material for your climate and conditions.
Full Asphalt Driveway Repaving Costs
Asphalt repaving provides a completely fresh start by tearing out and hauling away the original degraded driveway before pouring fresh hot mix asphalt. Like new construction, it typically lasts 15-25 years and comes with extensive prep work costs:
- Asphalt material per square foot – Approximate range of $5 to $10 depending on thickness and aggregate selected. Most repaving jobs use 4-6 inches for longevity and stability.
- Construction crew labor rates – Around $7 per square foot is average but ranges $5-$10 based on equipment requirements and regional wages.
- Total per square foot for asphalt tear out and repaving – $12 to $20 per square foot with most homeowners paying $15 to $18 per square foot. Includes removal and disposal, any grading or leveling, pouring the new asphalt, and cleanup.
- Sealing for protection per square foot – $0.20 to $0.40 per square foot provides great preventive value but is often overlooked initially.
As expected, completing a full demolition and repour tends to roughly double the costs compared to a simple resurfacing scenario with asphalt. But it gives a like-new outcome.
Concrete vs Asphalt Repaving
For those considering a fresh new driveway, either replacing badly damaged concrete or installing on a new home, poured concrete makes an exceptional choice despite higher initial investment, typically costing:
- Concrete materials per square foot – Ranges from $5 to $12 based on total depth poured and mix ingredients selected. Many jobs use 4-6 inches.
- Construction crew labor rates – From $8 to $15 per square foot depending on difficulty. Most projects fall around $12 per square foot for quality professional finishing work.
- Total new concrete driveway cost per square foot – $15 to $27 per square foot on average. With proper ongoing maintenance and sealing, it easily outlasts asphalt 2-to-1.
- Sealing for longevity per square foot – $0.10 to $0.25 per square foot. As with asphalt, this protection upfront prevents early cracks and deterioration.
While concrete entails greater initial investment, its extended lifespan often offsets long-run costs over decades compared to continually re-repaving cracked asphalt barring major climate considerations. Either material can serve residential needs well when professionally installed and cared for appropriately moving forward.
DIY vs Hiring a Pro
You potentially save 30-50% of costs by doing work yourself. However:
- Concrete demolition tool rental – Plan on $50 to $200 daily for jackhammers, hoe rams, and debris removal equipment to tear out old driveways depending on scope. Professionals own these tools.
- Material delivery fees – Basic driveway mixes average $200 to $500 delivered depending on volume ordered. Brick, aggregate, sand, etc. costs extra.
- Hand pouring and finishing tools – Invest around $150 to $300 to purchase basic finishing hand tools and rent any additional equipment locally needed for your specific project scale.
- Knowledgeable guidance – Seek free advice from foundational contractors to understand local material mixes and pouring best practices before tackling DIY rather than winging it. Even with Youtube, experience matters.
- Labor savings – At $5 to $15 per square foot for professionals, self-pouring saves potentially hundreds or more on driveways exceeding 1000+ square feet.
Carefully weigh DIY costs and efforts against hiring a contractor before deciding. Successfully DIYing smaller under-400 sq ft driveway projects potentially save 30-50% of total costs.
Additional Costs to Consider
- Minor patch repairs – Fixing cracked or pitted areas typically adds $200 to $1000 or more depending on damage extent and thickness of patches needed. Repair deteriorated areas before applying overlay.
- Grading and drainage improvements – Regrading for proper runoff and fixing drainage issues averages around $400 to $2000 based on scope. Helps prevent premature sinking or cracking over time.
- Tree root damage removal – Grinding out intrusive roots that frequently crack driveways costs in the range of $200 to $1000 per tree depending on severity. Root barriers also help.
- Decorative enhancements – Stamped patterns, specialty aggregate mixes, brick accents and colored concrete can raise costs $2 to $8 per square foot but add great curb appeal.
- Snowmelt systems – Heating coils buried under the new pour run $6 to $25 per square foot depending on materials, zoning, and controls.
- Permitting – Grading permits, inspections, and traffic control requirements vary by municipality. Always verify local requirements and include permit fees in estimates.
Always account for prep work, special enhancements, permits, and other project scopes when budgeting. Get a detailed written estimate upfront.
Final Words
With routine maintenance factored in over the long run, enhancing your home’s curb appeal with a smooth driveway also boosts value and makes great first impressions.
Answers to Common Questions
Is it worth resurfacing a driveway?
For driveways with sound structural bases and only moderate surface wear, resurfacing can extend useful life 5-10 years at a fraction of repaving costs. It offers a budget-friendly alternative to total reconstruction.
What is the most cost-effective driveway material?
Asphalt driveways have the lowest upfront installation and resurfacing costs compared to concrete, brick, or stone pavers. Asphalt also remains simple for DIY repairs. However, concrete offers the longest lifespan overall if maintained properly.
Is it better to resurface or replace a driveway?
If cracking and crumbling have caused extensive structural issues throughout the driveway, full replacement is likely needed. But resurfacing is ideal if the problems are limited to the surface layer only over an otherwise solid base.
How long does a resurfaced driveway take to dry?
Most asphalt driveway resurfacing projects require approximately 24-48 hours of cure time before driving or parking. Hot tires can imprint asphalt before it hardens fully. Follow your contractor’s specific post-installation care guidelines.
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